Lamp shade



Feb. 15, 1944. R. c. NADLER LAMP SHADE Filed Sept. 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RUB/N C. NA01 ATTORNE Y5 Feb. 15, 1944. R. c. NADLER LAMP SHADE Filed Sept. 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Rue/N C NADL ER 17% im /4%? wra /vans Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.

LAMP SHADE Rubin C. N adler, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application September 4, 1942, Serial No. 457,343

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in lamp shades and more particularly, to that type of lamp shade having a frame which generally determines the size and shape of the finished shade, and a covering for said frame.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a lamp shade in which the frame is of such construction that the covering may be applied thereto by a mass production method, thereby enabling the manufacturing cost of such shade to be materially reduced.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a lamp shade in which the metal frame thereof is provided, adjacent its top or its bottom or both, with suitably distributed spaces for the reception of the means by which the shade covering is secured to the, shade frame, the provision of said spaces greatly facilitating and expediting such securement.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a lamp shade in which the shade covering can be easily, quickly and economically secured to the shade frame by machine sewing or stitching, with the consequent avoidance of the slow and expensive hand sewing operations heretofore considered necessary.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a lamp shade having readily applied trim or finishing strips for concealing the stitching by means of which the shade covering is secured to the shade frame, thereby enhancing the appearance of the lamp shade.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a lamp sh'ade in which the trim or finishing strips, for the concealment of the stitching by which the shade covering is secured to the shade frame, are made from fabric cut on the bias, thereby causing their outer concealing portions to have a normal tendency to hug the shade covering. a

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a lamp shade in which the frame is provided adjacent its top and/or adjacent its bottom with generally endless means, of metal or the like, having a series of pairs of vertically spaced portions distributed therearound, the spaces between such portions permitting a needle to be readily passed therethrough in the stitching of the shade covering to the shade frame.

A further object of the present invention is the provisionof a lamp shade having a frame of metal or the like provided adjacent its top or itsbcttom or. both, .with suitably distributed spaces covered by fabric or equivalent material to which the frame covering can be easily, quickly and firmly secured, such as by machine stitching.

Further objects of the present invention, and other of its practical advantages, will be evident from the following description of one embodiment of such invention, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lamp shade embodying one form of the present invention;

2 is a similar view of the metal frame of the lamp shade of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the top portion of the lamp shade frame, and showing the fabric binding or wrapping which encloses the two vertically spaced ring-like members at the top of the frame;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view-of the top portion of the lamp shade and showing the top edge portion of the outer covering member machine stitched to the binding or wrapping which encloses the vertically spaced ring-like members at the top of the frame;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp shade parts of Fig. 4, the View being on the line 5--5, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5, but with the inner member of the shade covering added, the securement of said inner covering member having been effected by machine stitch- 111%;

Fig. '7 is a view corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6 but with the upper trim or finishing strip added, the securement of said trim or finishing strip having been effected by machine stitching and the strip being in a preliminary position; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the finished lamp shade, the view being on the line t8, Fi 1.

Before the lamp shade here illustrated is specifically described, it is to be understood that the invention here involved is not limited to the details of construction or the specific arrangement of parts herein illustrated or described, as the invention obviously may take various forms. It also is to be understood that the terminology or phraseology herein employed is for purposes of description and not of limitation, the scope of the present invention being denoted by the appended claims.

As will hereinafter more fully appear, the lamp shade here illustrated for the disclosure of one form of the present invention, comprises a metal frame of skeleton form, and a fabric covering for said frame which is quickly and economically secured thereto by machine stitching, a method of securement which enables mass production of the shade to be readily obtained, with a consequent reduction in the cost thereof. Ihe shade also includes, for the purpose of enhancing its appearance, fabric trim or finishing I strips which cover and thereby conceal the stitching by which the covering is secured to the shade frame, the machine made stitches by which the trim or finishing strips are attached also being covered and thereby concealed by portions of said strips.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated the skeleton metal frame of the lamp shade of Fig. 1, and as will be evident from Fig. 2, said frame comprises generally endless band like means at the top and at the bottom thereof, a plurality of strut-like members by which said band means are connected and maintained in properly spaced relationship, and hanger or supporting means at the top of the frame to enable the finished shade to be hung or supported in use thereof. For the rapid and economical securement, by machine stitching, of the shade covering (and the shade trim or finishing strips if they are used) to the shade frame, the band means at the top and at the bottom of the frame are each provided with circumferentially spaced slots through which the sewing machine needle may pass in the stitching operations. Preferably and as here shown, the circumferentially distributed slots of the frames top and bottom generally endless means are covered by fabric or equivalent material to which are machine stitched the lamp shade covering and the stitch-concealing trim or finishing strips, if any are used.

In the lamp shade frame here illustrated, the generally endless composite band means at the top or upper end of the frame is formed by two connected annular members in vertically spaced relation, the upper member It being a rod bent into a closed ring and the lower member I I being a sheet metal band of closed ring form. The generally endless means at the bottom or lower end of the frame is of corresponding character although of usually greater diameter, the upper one of its two vertically spaced lower members being a sheet metal band [2 of closed ring form and its lower member being a rod l3 bent into a closed ring. Each composite band is usually rather narrow, its width, one half inch or so, being of the order of that of the binding or finishing braid usually employed in lamp shades of the size and kind here involved. The strut-like members which connect and maintain these frame two composite bands in properly spaced relation comprise a series of circumferentially spaced, downwardly and outwardly flaring rods l4, there being six such rods in the present frame and each being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to each of the four frame rings on the inner side thereof, thus permanently connecting the two rings of each band. The hanger or supporting means at the top of the frame, for the mounting and support of the finished lamp shade in use thereof, comprises a centrally disposed apertured hub I 6 and a series of arms I! suitably connected thereto and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the outer ends of said arms (there being three such arms of rod like form in the present instance) being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the sheet metal ring I l of the upper band.

Enclosing the two closely spaced frame top rings l and H which form the upper band is a fabric wrapping or binding 18, made of tape, wrapped spirally, and a like wrapping or binding I over each of said strut-like frame members.

I!) (see Fig. 8) encloses the twoclosely spaced frame bottom rings l2 and I3. When these tape wrappings are applied, each band becomes, in effect, a composite endless, relatively narrow more or less rigid member having a circumferentially extending slot or opening between its edges through which and the binding a sewing machine needle may be passed for the stitching operation. To these wrappings or bindings is first secured, in the form of the invention here illustrated, the outer exposed member 2| of the lamp shade covering, said outer covering memher being of silk or other suitable fabric or equivalent material. This outer covering member 2|, of a width and length to laterally enclose the lampshade frame, is first given an endless and downwardly and outwardly flaring form by machine stitch connection of the ends thereof, the resulting. seam 22 (see Fig. 1) being of inconspicuous character and preferably being disposed along one of the strut-like members I 4 of the shade frame. The outer covering member, in its endless form and of downwardly and outwardly flaring contour to conform to the shade frame, is slipped or sleeved over the shade frame from the top and smaller end thereof, and thereafter, the top and bottom edge portions of this outer covering member are machine stitched to the top and bottom frame wrappings or bindings l8 and I9.

As will be evident from Figs. 5 and 8, the stitches 24 by which the outer covering member 2! is secured to the frame wrappings or bindings extend not only through such bindings but also through the circumferentially distributed spaces 25 between the frame top rings In and H and through the like spaces 26 between the frame bottom rings I2 and Hi, the provision of such spaces 25 and 26 making possible the securement by machine stitching of the outer covering member to the shade frame, as will be readily understood. As will be evident from Fig. 4, the stitches 24 between the strut-like members i 4 of the frame are closely spaced, with a long stitch jumping In this sewing operation (and in the others to be hereinafter referred to), it is merely necessary to raise the needle, and possibly the presser foot, when they approach a strut-like frame member and carry them over it, a simple and readily performed step to those skilled in sewing machine operations. The outer covering member is stretched taut, of course, before the second edge portion thereof is likewise stitched to the frame and thereafter, if desired, both edges of said covering member may be trimmed off even with the top and bottom of the shade frame, as here shown.

The inner covering member 28 of the shade may be made of less expensive fabric, if desired, than the outer covering member, the inner covering member being usually of white colored material for increased reflectivity. After it has been given an endless form and a downwardly and outwardly flaring contour by machine stitch connection of its ends, it is inserted within the shade frame from below, and thereafter, its top and bottom edge portions are machine stitched to the top and bottom frame wrappings or bindings l8 and I9, and to the top and bottom edge portions of the outer covering member 2|, the top edge portion of the inner covering member 28 being suitably slit, as indicated at 28a, Fig. 1, for the reception of the radially disposed frame hanger or supporting arms l'l. Like the stitches 24,the stitches 29 (see Figs. 6 and 8) by which the inner covering member is secured to the shade frame,

extend through the circumferentially extending slots or openings 25 and 26, that portion of the inner covering member between the two rows of stitches 29 being in a taut condition, as will be readily understood. If desired, the inner covering member may be cut off even with the top and bottom of the shade frame, as was done with the outer covering member 2!, but in the form of the invention here illustrated, the top and bottom edge portions of the inner covering member are drawn outwardly over the top and bottom edges of the shade frame and then down to form a twoply hem, with the stitches 29 holding in place such hemmed edge portions, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

To enhance its appearance, the present shade has its stitches 24 and 29, both at the top and bottom thereof, covered and thereby concealed by fabric trim or finishing strips 3!. As here shown, these trim or finishing strips not only are of such character as to cover the stitches 24 and 28, both inside and outside the shade, but also, are of such character as to cover and thereby conceal the stitches by which such strips themselves are machine sewed to the shade. As will be evident from Figs. 7 and 8, each of the trim or finishing strips 3! has an edge portion thereof secured to the shade on the inner side thereof, the stitches 32 for effecting the securement of the top trim or finishing strip being below the top stitches 24 and 29, and the stitches 33 for efiecting the securement of the bottom trim or finishing strip being above the bottom stitches 24 and 29. After their securement is effected, the trim or finishing strips are drawn around the top and bottom edges of the shade, the free edge portions 35 of the two trim or finishing strips being thus positioned on the outer surface of the shade, at the top and bottom thereof. Such securement and disposition of the trim or finishing strips effect the concealment of all stitches, both from the outside and the inside of the shade, with the consequent enhancement of the shades appearance, as will be readily understood. Preferably, the outturned portions 35 of the trim or finishing strips have selvage or otherwise finished free edges, such as the inturned or reversely bent edges 35a here shown.

In order that the outturned edge portions 35 of the trim or finishing strips 3! will closely hug the outer surface of the top and bottom edges of the shade, said trim or finishing strips preferably are made of fabric cut on the bias. A bias cut strip is yieldable under tension and may be drawn to a tight fit despite contour variations in the article to which it is applied. For the same reason the outturning operation already described can be performed without tearing or slitting the fabric. The reentrant fold shown by reference numeral 35a is on the under side when the binding strip is outturned, and is thereby protected from accidental or intentional contact. The yieldably resilient nature of the outturned portion of the strip holds said portion in snug contact with the surface of the shade.

It may be noted that the metal frame here described, either with or without the wrapping or binding I8, may be made and sold as an article of manufacture, leaving purchasers thereof to apply cover material in the manner described.

To those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, other features and advantages of lamp shades embodying the invention 3 will be evidentfrom the foregoing description of one such embodiment.

What I claim is:

l. A lamp shade, comprising a frame and a tubular cover therefor, the frame including a relatively narrow endless band provided between its edges with a circumferentially extending slot, the tubular cover at one end having two concentric plies which enclose said band between them, and machine stitches passing through said slot and securing the two plies of the cover to each other and to the frame.

2. A lamp shade, comprising a frame and a tubular cover therefor, the frame including a relatively narrow endless band provided between its edges with a circumferentially extending slot, the tubular cover at one end having two concentric plies which enclose said band between them, and machine stitches passing through said slot and securing the two plies of the cover to each other and to the frame, said slotted band being provided with a wrapping of fabric binding material through which such stitches also may pass.

3. A lamp shade, comprising a frame and a tubular cover therefor, the frame including a relatively narrow endless band provided between its edges with a circumferentially extending slot, the tubular cover at one end having two concentric plies which enclose said band between them, machine stitches passing through said slot and securing the two plies of the cover to each other and to the frame, said slotted band being provided with a wrapping of fabric binding material through which such stitches also may pass, and a finish strip formed of bias material, one edge thereof being attached to the inner surface of the tubular cover by machine stitches passing through said slot, the other edge of said strip being drawn outwardly around the band into hem form enclosing and covering the otherwise outwardly exposed stitches passing through said slot.

4. A lamp shade of the character described, comprising a frame including connected upper and lower bands, a tubular cover secured at one end to one of said bands, the other of, said bands consisting of two closely spaced rigidly connected rings of the same diameter and separated by a narrow slot, said tubular cover having its other end provided with two plies which between them embrace said slotted band, and stitches passing through said slot and securing the two plies of the cover to each other and to the slotted band.

5. A lamp shade, comprising connected upper and lower relatively narrow endless bands, one thereof being provided between its edges with a circumferentially extending slot, a wrapping of fabric binding material enclosing the slotted band and covering and concealing the slot thereof, and a tubular fabric cover for said frame having one of its open end edges secured to said slotted band by machine stitches passing through said slots and through the binding material, the other open end of said cover being secured to the other band. i

6. A lamp shade, comprising connected upper and lower relatively narrow endless bands, each thereof being provided between its edges with a circumferentially extending slot, a wrapping of fabric binding material enclosing each band and covering and concealing the slot thereof, inner and outer tubular cover members, one thereof having its end edges applied and secured to the wrapping by machine stitches passing through said slots, the other having its end edges folded into hems each enclosing one of said bands and the aforesaid stitches, the two plies of each hem being secured together by machine stitches also passing through said slots.

7. A lamp shade, comprising connected upper and lower relatively narrow endless bands, each thereof being provided between its edges with a circumferentially extending slot, a wrapping of fabric binding material enclosing each band and covering and concealing the slot thereof, inner and outer tubular cover members, one thereof having its end edges applied and secured to the wrapping by machine stitches passing through said slots, the other having its end edges folded into hems each enclosing one of said bands and the aforesaid stitches, the two plies of each hem being secured together by machine stitches also passing through said slots, and a finish strip for each band having one edge secured to such band by machine stitches passing through one of said slots, the other edge of said strip being drawn over its own stitches around the band into hem form to thereby enclose and conceal all stitches through its band.

RUBIN C. NADLER. 

